You don’t have enough time to defend your ideas and act on them.
I’m a people pleaser. No surprise there. I love when people are happy with me. I take pride in being well liked.
But when it comes time to follow through with my dream, I have no time to make others happy. I have no time to answer every criticism that comes my way. If you’re spending your time convincing people you are right or doing something good, you won’t have enough time to actually do it. That’s the truth.
I recently got a comment on an old blog post calling me a sinner and arguing against my point. I was tempted to go back and answer Harold. I was tempted to engage him in a dialogue on what I was really trying to say. But I’d already answered that question. I’d already made my argument clear. No amount of my time would ever sway his opinion. And I could spend years defending myself and never move beyond this petty debate.
So I’m choosing to ignore the critic. But it isn’t out of arrogance or anything mean, it’s out of a strong vision and strong purpose. I have far too many dreams to waste my team on defending them. I only have time to make them happen.
The same’s true for you. If you plan to challenge the status quo, you’ll have critics. And you can spend an eternity defending against the critics. But a far better plan is simply to move on. Leave them in the dust. They can criticize all they want. But the only one there to hear them is the dust that’s getting in their mouth and eyes.
I would also add that perhaps spending a little time processing what you said and why it touched a nerve. What I mean is- you obviously said something that had enough impact to actually cause someone to comment, no small feat in today’s age of techno binging.
There’s something there, perhaps something to be expanded on. The kernel of an idea, thought, opinion that has some room to be expounded on because it got someone’s attention (whether in a positive or negative way).
You don’t get people’s attention with what you say by saying safe stuff. You get their attention by sharing thought provoking content. It may challenge their paradigm (a good thing), it may cause them to respond and want to debate/argue, but I think your choice to not respond and to keep your eyes on your goals is the correct response.
I just wanted to encourage you to chew a little bit on the source of why the criticism was made (not the accusation or the accuser), because it resonated enough to get someone’s attention- there might be something there to expound on! 🙂
great perspective!
I would also add that perhaps spending a little time processing what you said and why it touched a nerve. What I mean is- you obviously said something that had enough impact to actually cause someone to comment, no small feat in today’s age of techno binging.
There’s something there, perhaps something to be expanded on. The kernel of an idea, thought, opinion that has some room to be expounded on because it got someone’s attention (whether in a positive or negative way).
You don’t get people’s attention with what you say by saying safe stuff. You get their attention by sharing thought provoking content. It may challenge their paradigm (a good thing), it may cause them to respond and want to debate/argue, but I think your choice to not respond and to keep your eyes on your goals is the correct response.
I just wanted to encourage you to chew a little bit on the source of why the criticism was made (not the accusation or the accuser), because it resonated enough to get someone’s attention- there might be something there to expound on! 🙂
great perspective!
What if in doing just as you suggest, it would mean going to another church? Heartbreak or opportunity in you opinion ?
There’s an important distinction between your dream and accomplishing someone else’s dream. Whenever you’re working for someone…as an employee…you’re working to make their dream a reality. So as an employee, you’re working for your employer’s dream. But if you’re working on your project that is your dream…that’s when you don’t worry about the criticism.
What if in doing just as you suggest, it would mean going to another church? Heartbreak or opportunity in you opinion ?
There’s an important distinction between your dream and accomplishing someone else’s dream. Whenever you’re working for someone…as an employee…you’re working to make their dream a reality. So as an employee, you’re working for your employer’s dream. But if you’re working on your project that is your dream…that’s when you don’t worry about the criticism.
Wonderful point. But I’m a volunteer. Not paid staff. Just feeling a bit ‘hand cuffed’.
You definitely need to evaluate whether or not God has you planted there. If He does…you have to work to support the leadership’s vision. But if you don’t feel God has you there intentionally…life’s too short to be miserable at church.
Wonderful point. But I’m a volunteer. Not paid staff. Just feeling a bit ‘hand cuffed’.
You definitely need to evaluate whether or not God has you planted there. If He does…you have to work to support the leadership’s vision. But if you don’t feel God has you there intentionally…life’s too short to be miserable at church.
Wise advice. And well taken. Thank you. Your site is a blessing.
Wise advice. And well taken. Thank you. Your site is a blessing.
I am a creative living and working in Africa and I find your advice very helpful. Keep up the good work.
I am a creative living and working in Africa and I find your advice very helpful. Keep up the good work.